Mechanical press



July 15, 1969 Q BRACCO ET AL MECHANICAL PRESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 25, 1967 July 15, 1969 BRACCO ETAL MECHANICAL PRESS 5 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Jan. 23, 1967 July 15, 1969 BRACCO ETAL MECHANICAL PRESS 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 25, 1967 July 15, 1969 c BRACCO ET AL3,455,141

MECHANICAL PRES S July 15, 1959 c, BRACCO ET AL 3,455,141

MECHANICAL PRESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 23, 1967 .M II .1.

3,455,141 Patented July 15, 1969 3,455,141 MECHANICAL PRESS CesareBracco and Sergio Taverna, Turin, Italy, assignors to Fiat Societa perAzioni, Turin, Italy Filed Jan. 23, 1967, Ser. No. 610,987 Claimspriority, application Italy, Apr. 8, 1966, 8,518/66 Int. Cl. B21j 13/08;B21d 43/02; B30b 15/06 U.S. Cl. 72446 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An improved mechanical press of the type generally used fordrawing sheet metal, the press comprising a substantially quadrilateralbedplate to which one-half of a mould is secured, a ram to which theother mould half is secured and means for removing the ram towards andaway from the said bedplate. Supporting tables are provided on each sideof the bedplate, the supporting tables having roller conveyors and thebedplate itself carrying rollers which may be either retracted to belowthe bedplate surface or raised to above the said bedplate surface.Positioning means are provided on the supporting tables for moving themoulds transversely of the conveyors. With this roller arrangementmoulds may be removed and replaced along a path which is substantiallyat right angle to the path followed by the sheet metal.

The invention relates to mechanical presses which in use include a mouldand more particularly to presses for drawing sheet metal components ofmotor vehicle bodies.

In known presses of the above-mentioned type drawing is eifected bymeans of a divided mould, the bottom half of which is secured to abedplate, and the top half of which is secured to a ram which is mountedto be vertically slidable in a frame overlying the bedplate. The saidframe is formed with lateral openings for feeding into the mould of thesheet metal to be drawn and for removal of the drawn parts therefrom.The moulds themselves are also introduced and removed through theseopenings.

When the moulds are of considerable size, their replacement becomesdifiicult and use of the press for manufacture is thus prevented forlong periods at a time. Moreover, replacement of such mouldsnecessitates the use of lifting and conveying means, such as hoists,cranes and the like and such use, of course, calls for the presence ofskilled operators.

It is an object of the invention to obviate such drawbacks bysimplifying and shortening mould replacement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a press of theabove-mentioned type wherein the mould may be replaced by means whichthemselves form a part of the press, thereby avoiding the necessity touse hoists, cranes and the like and reducing labour requirements.

According to these and further objects of the invention there isprovided a press for a mould, for instance for drawing material such assheet metal parts of motor vehicle bodies and of the type having asubstantially quadrilateral bedplate to which one mould half is secured,a ram to which the other mould half is attached and means for effectingvertical movements of the ram towards and away from the said bedplate,the material to be drawn being fed to the mould on one side of thebedplate and removed, after drawing, from the opposite side thereof, thepress comprising two supporting tables for the moulds, the said tablesbeing substantially co-planar with the press bedplate and extending fromtwo opposite sides thereof towards the press exterior transversely ofthe direction of material feed and removal.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be clearfrom the following description, given with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which are by way of example and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a press according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a detail of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mould for the press;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a possible modification of theinvention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show further details, of a press according to theinvention, also on an enlarged scale and in sectional views respectivelytaken along lines V--V and VI-VI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a part sectional plan view of the press; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a detail of FIG. 4 taken along the lineVIIIVIII thereof.

With reference first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the press according to theinvention may be seen to comprise a frame 1 having four pillars 2, 3, 4,5 which are arranged at the corners of a rectangular bedplate 6, thefour sides of which bedplate are denoted A, B, C and D respectively. Arectangular ram 7 is mounted between the four columns to be slidable ina vertical direction and means known per se (not shown) are provided inthe top portion 8 of the said frame 1 for effecting movement of the ram7 towards and away from the bedplate 6. Such means may, for instance,comprise mechanically operated cylinders.

The bedplate 6 is formed in its sides A and B which extend between thecolumns 1, 2 and 3 with four notches 9 each adapted to receive the stem10 of a T-shaped bolt 11, the head portion of each of which bolts issituated above the plane of the bedplate. The bottom end of each boltstem 10 is hinged, by means of a pin 12 which is arranged parallel tothe respective side of the bedplate, to

one end of a rod 13. The said rods 13 are each associated with thepiston of a vertically arranged pneumatic cylinder 14 which is securedto the bedplate 6 by means of a support 15.

Four similar vertically arranged pneumatic cylinders 16 are secured, bymeans of supports 17, to the sides of the ram 7 which is formed withfour notches 18 adapted to receive the stems 19 of T-bolts 20 hingered,by means of pins 21, to piston rods 22 of the said cylinder 16.

The bolts 11 and 20 serve respectively to anchor the bedplate 6 to thebottom half 23 of a mould 25 and the ram 7 to the top half 24 0f thesaid mould 25 (FIG, 3). Supporting plates 26, 27, are securedrespectively to the bottom face of the bottom half 23 and top face ofthe top half 24 of the mould 25. The supporting plate 26 is formed, inareas of its side edges M, N extending beyond the block which forms thebottom mould half 23, with four notches 28 and four notches 29 (twonotches 28 and two notches 29 being formed in each said side). Thesupporting plate 27 is formed in its corresponding edges M1, N1 withfour notches 30 (two notches 30 being formed in each said side).

When the mould 25 is positioned on the bedplate 6 and the ram 7 islowered to bear thereon, the notches 28 are aligned with the notches 9and the notches 30 are aligned with the notches 18. This arrangementenables the bolts 11, 20, respectively, to be inserted in the alignednotch pairs.

The sheet metal to be drawn is fed to the mould and the drawn parts areremoved therefrom, through the openings existing between the columns 2and 3, and between the columns 4 and 5, the metal being moved in thedirection denoted by the arrow F1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) by suitable conveyingmeans known per se and not shown.

According to previously known techniques, the operations of insertingand removing the moulds have been carried out with suitable equipmentalso in the direction of the arrow F1 which direction is transversely ofthe sides A and B of the bedplate 6.

According to the invention, however, the press is providcd with meansfor introducing and removing the moulds in the direction denoted by thearrow F2 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which direction is transversely of thedirection of sheet metal feed and removal of the drawn parts.

The said means comprises two supporting tables 31, 32 which are arrangedto be substantially co-planar with the bedplate 6 and which extend fromthe sides C and D of the said 'plate through the openings between thecolumns 2 and 4 and 3 and 5.

The supporting table 31 comprises a rectangular frame 33 on which twofree roller conveyors 34, 35 are mounted, the rollers 36 thereof beingarranged parallel with the side C of the bedplate 6. As shown in FIG. 1,there is arranged a pusher 37 beside each conveyor 34, 35, one pusher 37only being however provided between the con veyors 34, 35, in thealternative embodiment shown on an enlarged scale in FIG. 4. Each pusher37 comprises a hydraulic cylinder 38 of length not less than half thelength of the conveyors 34, 35. Each cylinder 38 is secured to the frame33, so that the rod 39 of the piston of the cylinder 38 extends towardsthe side C of the bedplate 6.

Rails 40, 41 (illustrated in detail by way of example in FIGS. 4 and 8in association with the single pusher thereof) are arranged on bothsides of the cylinder or cylinders 38 and extend throughout the lengthof the frame 33. Rollers 42, 43 are arranged to roll along the rails 40,41 and together carry a head portion 44 which is secured transversely ofthe piston rod 39, further rollers 45, 46 being movable over the railsand carrying a lug 47 which is axially slidable on the cylinder 38. Thesaid head portion 44 and the said lug 47 are rigidly interconnected byrods 48 which are equal in length to the cylinder 38 and which extendparallel to the axis of the said cylinder.

The rollers which carry the head portion 44 and the lug 47 have arrangedbeside them further rollers 49, 50 and 51, 52, respectively, over whichfurther roller pairs 49, 51 and 50, 52 links of stroke-amplifyingtransmission chains 53,- 54 are respectively wound. The said chainsextend parallel to each other and their lower sides are respectivelyattached to the rails 40, 41 at the level of the head portion of thecylinder 38, the top sides of the said links being attached to a slide55 which is movable over the rails 40, 41. An angle member 56 and a hook57 are hinged to the slide 55 respectively by means of pins 58, 59 whichpins extend transversely of the axis of the cylinder 38.

The intermediate portion of each side of the frame 33 has securedthereto a bracket 60 having mounted thereon, for displacementtransversely of the movement of the slide 55, a girder 61. The saidgirders 61 each carry, on

their side facing the frame 33, a plurality of free rollers 62 whichextend beyond the supporting table 31 and are rotatable about theirvertical axes. The movements of each girder 61 are elfected byrespective pneumatic cylinders 63 secured to the sides of the frame 33.

The supporting table 32, which is arranged axially opposite the table31, comprises a rectangular frame 64 having mounted thereon two freeroller conveyors 65, 66 which are positioned as extensions of theconveyors 34, 35, respectively, from the side D of the bedplate 6.

A plurality of cylindrical recesses 67, each having a vertical axis, areformed in the bedplate 6 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the recesses being arranged intwo parallel rows adjacent the sides A and B of the said bedplate. Therecesses 67 each receive a free roller 68 which is caused, by ahydraulic jack 69 (FIG. 5), to perform vertical movements between twoend positions. In one of these end pos1tions the roller 68 extendsbeyond the bedplate 6 and 1s co-planar with the rollers 36 of theconveyors 34, 35, and in the other the said roller is withdrawn into therecesses 67. The latter is conveniently referred to as the inoperativeposition of the roller 68.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the said roller 68 is mounted on a pivot 70,the ends of which are guided vertically in two eyelets 71 formed in thebody portion of the hydraulic jack 69. The axes of the pivots extendparallel to those of the rollers 36 of the conveyors 34, 35. All thehydraulic jacks 60 are connected to a common pressure fluid pump (notshown) by a pipe 72, so that the said jacks are simultaneously operatedboth on extension and collapse.

As shown in FIG. 6, two retractable plungers 73 are arranged along theside D of the bedplate 6, each plunger being urged by a spring 74 toextend beyond the plane of the plate 6 and arranged to be withdrawn bymeans of a hydraulic cylinder 75 fed with pressure fluid through aconduit 76.

In order to assemble the mould 25 in its operative position in thepress, the said mould is placed on the conveyors 34, 35 of thesupporting table 31 so that the sides M, N of the plate 26 having thenotches 28, 29 are parallel with the sides A, B of the bedplate 6 (FIG.7). The mould is centred on the table 31 by operation of the cylinders63 to engage the girders 61 with the sides M, N of the plate 26 and somove the mould transversely of the longitudinal axis of the table 31.Fluid under pressure is then supplied to the hydraulic jacks 69 and thehylraulic cylinders 75 in order respectively to lift the rollers 68above the plane of the bedplate and to withdraw the plungers 73.

The pushers 37 are then operated and the mould 25 is moved by the anglemembers" 56 towards the bedplate 6. As will be evident, duringdisplacement over the bedplate, the mould is supported by the rollers 68in order to avoid sliding contact between the plate 26 and the bedplate6.

When the notches 29 in the plate 26 lie above the plungers 73, thehydraulic cylinders are emptied so that the springs 74 can extend andurge the said plungersinto the said notches. This prevents any furthermovement of the mould with respect to the bedplate. The rollers 68 arenow lowered by emptying of the cylinders of the hydraulic jacks 69. Whenthe mould is lowered it bears directly upon the upper surface of thebedplate 6. The ram 7 is then lowered on the mould and the bolts 11, 20are engaged by the notches 28, 40 respectively in the latter.

The press is now ready for operation and during such operation a furthermould can be stored on the supporting table 31 for subsequent use in thepress, the further mould being centred by means of the girders 61 andpneumatic cylinders 63 as described above.

In order to substitute the said further mould situated on the supportingtable 31, for the mould being used in the press, the bolts 11, 20 arereleased from their notches, the ram 7 is lifted and the pushers 33 areoperated after the plungers 73 have been withdrawn and the rollers 68raised to lift the mould above the bedplate 6 on which it is situated.

Movement of the pushers 37 causes the further mould to be moved towardsthe bedplate 6 and the mould thereon is pushed thereoif and onto thesupporting table 32. The further mould is attached to the bedplate 6 andram 7 by means of the bolts 11, 20 respectively, and the mould which nowrests on the supporting table 32 can be removed and stored or returnedto the supporting table 31.

If desired, the mould can be returned directly from the bedplate 6 tothe supporting table 31. This is elfected by engaging it with the hooks57 and moving the pushers in an opposite direction, that is to say, awayfrom the bedplate 6.

Various modifications of the invention are of course possible within thescope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. Press for a mould for drawing material such as sheet metal parts ofmotor vehicles, having two halves, the press comprislng a substantiallyquadrilateral bedplate, a ram, means for effecting vertical movements ofthe ram towards and away from the bedplate, releasable attachme t meanssecuring respective mould halves to the bedplate and the ramrespectively, two mould supporting tables arranged substantiallycoplanar with the bedplate and extending from two opposite sidesthereof, wherein the improvement comprises the combination of:

(a) respective roller conveyors on said supporting tables, the axes ofthe conveyor rollers being parallel to the direction of feed of materialto and from the mould,

(b) means engageable with moulds on said conveyors and effective to movemoulds longitudinally of said conveyors transversely to the axes of theconveyor rollers, and

(c) pusher means on each supporting table, and actuator means for movingsaid pusher means parallel to the conveyor roller axes to move a mouldthereon transversely of the respective conveyor to align the mould withthe bedplate.

2. Press as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said supporting tablecomprises:

(a) a stationary frame extending towards the press bedplate, and

(b) two parallel roller conveyors mounted on the said stationary frameto extend towards the press bedplate.

3. Press as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said bedplate has formedtherein a plurality of vertically extending recesses and there areprovided a plurality of free rollers, the said free rollers being housedwithin the bedplate recesses with their axes parallel to the rollers ofthe said conveyors, fluid pressure actuator means being provided forsimultaneously displacing the said rollers in their respective recessesbetween an inoperative condition in which they are withdrawn and anoperative position in which they extend beyond the surface of the saidbedplate to present a rolling surface co-planar with that of the rollersof the said conveyors.

4. Press as claimed in claim 1 wherein recesses are formed in the saidbedplate and retractable plungers are provided in the said recesses, thesaid plungers being spring baised to extend beyond the said bedplatesurfaces to engage notches defined in the said mould, and fluid pressureactuator means being provided to withdraw the said plungers to or belowthe said bedplate surface.

5. Press as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said means for moving thesaid mould longitudinally of the said conveyors comprises at least onepusher, the said pusher having an angle member arranged above the saidsupporting table, a slide being provided which slide carries the saidangle member and which is movable longitudinally of the said conveyors.

6. Press as claimed in claim 5 wherein the said slide is movable by ahydraulic jack arranged parallel to the said conveyors and secured tothe said frame.

7. Press as claimed in clai-m 5 wherein the said slide is movable by apneumatic jack arranged parallel to the said conveyors and secured tothe said frame.

8. Press as claimed in claim 5 wherein a hook is provided on a saidpusher, by means of which said hook the said pusher may draw a saidmould away from the said bedplate.

9. Press as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said pusher means for movingthe said mould transversely of the said conveyors comprise two girdersextending parallel to the said conveyors and protruding above the saidsupporting table on opposite sides thereof, each said girder beingoperabel by said actuataor means to effect movements of the said girdertransversely of the said conveyors.

10. Press as claimed in claim 9, wherein said girders are provided ontheir mould-engaging sides with free rollers rotatable about verticalaxes.

11. Press as claimed in claim 9, wherein said girder actuator meanscomprise respective fluid pressure actuators.

12. Press as claimed in claim 5, in which the pusher comprises a fluidpressure actuator arranged parallel to the conveyors, a head movable bythe actuator longitudinally of the conveyors, rollers carried by thehead having axes of rotation parallel to the conveyor roller axes, andstroke-amplifying chains anchored at one end to the respectivesupporting table and passing around respective said rollers and securedat their other ends to the slide.

13. Press as claimed in claim 5, in which two pushers are mounted on theframe of each supporting table outwardly of the two roller conveyorsthereon.

14. Press as claimed in claim 12, in which a single hydraulic pusher ismounted on the frame of each supporting table between two rollerconveyors and directly connected to the mould.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,543,498 2/ 1951 Japikse -299 X2,913,946 11/1959 Ellrich 100-299 X 2,965,369 12/1960 Acker et al198-221 X 2,996,025 8/ 1961 Georgeff 100-224 3,002,479 10/1961 Johansenet al 100-224 3,111,100 11/1963 Georgeff 100-224 3,134,350 5/1964 Danlyet a1 100-299 X 3,225,686 12/ 1965 Clements 100-229 3,229,791 1/ 1966Soman 100-229 3,230,869 1/ 1966 Wilkens 100-224 3,316,834 5/1967Draganti 100-229 FOREIGN PATENTS 950,884 2/1964 Great Britain.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner E. M. COMBS, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R. 72-421, 422; 100-229, 299

